For years, as the Raptors built one of the best offences in the NBA regular season, they did so with DeMar DeRozan’s ability to get to the free throw line as a centrepiece. In the three seasons proceeding this one, DeRozan averaged, respectively, 10.7, 12 and 12.5 free throw attempts per 100 possessions. Last year, of the 84 players who played at least 30 minutes per game, he ranked fourth in the league in that category.

And in the playoffs, those numbers inevitable dropped, as did the Raptors’ overall efficiency. He averaged 5.4, 8.8 and 11.1 free throws in the corresponding playoffs. We all know what happened to the Raptors’ attack as a whole in those seasons.

Whether or not DeRozan’s foul-hunting was a cause of the Raptors’ playoff struggles or an effect of postseason defences zeroing in on what makes the Raptors tick did not really matter. That part of the Raptors’ offence never fully translated to the playoffs, and the offence inevitably took a hit.

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